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A homeowner recently shared their experience filing a homeowners’ insurance claim for the first time in eight years of owning a home. What they thought was a routine step after water leaked into an upstairs bedroom turned into a hard lesson about how insurance really works in the U.S.

“I always thought homeowners’ insurance was used when something went wrong with your home,” they wrote on Reddit recently. “I didn’t realize you get penalized for smaller claims and could be marked as someone not to insure.”

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Home Insurance Is for Catastrophes, Not Small Repairs?

The homeowner said the water leak was likely caused by an issue with the door or deck. They assumed it was the right move to report the damage to their insurance provider. But after reading responses from other homeowners, they regretted it. “Now I know I shouldn’t have even filed,” they said. “I just assumed the right thing to do was tell the insurance!”

It turns out that filing even a single claim can result in long-term consequences. Many commenters confirmed that small claims often result in rate hikes, non-renewals or difficulty getting coverage in the future.

“You can be penalized for even calling your insurance company to ask if something is covered. Ask me how I know,” one person said.

However, not everyone had the same experience. “My house had a major structure fire in 2011. Just under $500,000 was paid out,” another homeowner said. “A standard increase of around 80 bucks was put on the next year’s policy. Get a better insurer.”

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Just Asking About Coverage Can Raise Your Rates

Several people explained that insurance companies track every interaction, including phone calls. One person said they asked their insurance about a fallen tree that damaged their fence. The representative said it wasn’t covered, and they hung up. Months later, the company raised their premium by 40% and listed the call as a claim.

“Turns out that by simply calling and asking a question I was ‘filing a claim,’” they said. “That’s when I learned you never, ever call your home insurance company unless you absolutely have to.”

Even before filing their first claim, the original poster noted their premiums had already gone up $1200 this year, despite never filing a claim, echoing what many others described: insurance rates increasing year after year, regardless of claim history.

The data is often stored in the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, a database that can affect future quotes and even home sales. “It goes in a CLUE report that potential buyers can pull and see all claims on your home,” one homeowner warned.  “Best to keep money stashed away in a [high-yield savings account] for repairs.”

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Use An Agent Or Broker As A Buffer

Many commenters urged homeowners to go through an independent agent before contacting the insurer directly. An agent can offer advice without triggering a claim. “I can’t deny a claim,” one agent said, “but I can certainly educate you and let you make a decision. No record kept.”

Others stressed the importance of getting quotes for repairs and then deciding if it’s worth talking to the insurance.

There was strong agreement that homeowners’ insurance should only be used for large, catastrophic losses, not things like leaky roofs, small water damage, or tree removal.

The original poster seemed to take the advice to heart. “What’s done is done now,” they wrote. “I guess I pray that nothing catastrophic happens in the next few years.”

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This article After Filing A Home Insurance Claim For The First Time, They Realized It Was A Mistake And Admitted, ‘I Never Should Have Started A Claim’ originally appeared on Benzinga.com